Warbirds

The aesthetically pleasing lines of the Robin R2160 lends itself easily to striking colour schemes and markings. Prominent red stars on a black background on NXYallows it to stand out from the average crowd of 152s and Warriors, and it is now on line at Canberra airport. (Keith Myers)

Those who have noted the passing of the CT-4 Airtrainer from RAAF service may have noticed that of the 54 aircraft that were taken on charge by the Air Force not all were sold as surplus, kept for museum duties or transferred to the Wagga RAAF base for use as instructional airframes.

Four aircraft were deleted from RAAF service during the life of the type. Three of these were due to accidents and one was transferred back to New Zealand for use by the manufacturer in developmental work. The three aircraft written off in accidents were A19-028, A19-057 and A19-067, while the aircraft returned to New Zealand was A19-065.

A19-028 was written off in a fatal accident near Oakey, Queensland, on August 16 1979. This was the only fatal CT-4 accident while the type was in RAAF service.

A19-067 was badly damaged and later written off as a result of an accident on the December 13 1978. The aircraft was being used to transport Santa Claus to a Christmas Treat at the RAAF East Sale base when the circling aircraft clipped a pine tree and came down on the sports oval. A small fire was quickly extinguished. The pilot was unhurt, but Father Christmas received a fractured leg and was transported to hospital but not by a reindeer pulling a sleigh. A19-067 was the third and last CT-4 to be involved in an accident while the type was in RAAF service. This aircraft was ditched into Port Phillip Bay, Vic, during a training flight that involved a simulated engine failure after takeoff. The crew of two were unhurt. CT-4 A19-065 was sold to Pacific Aerospace Corporation of New Zealand in order that PAC could continue developmental work on the turbine powered CT-4C. The CT-4C was as an air force trainer however to date no sales have been made although in 1991 the PAC marketing manager commented that “prospects look encouraging for the turbine trainer”. This aircraft featured on our August 91 cover.

Profile – Cac Mustang VH-AGJ

One of the most popular aircraft on both the local and international warbird and airshow scene is the North American Mustang.

In Australia there are three Mustangs flying, all locally built CAC built machines. Two are based in Victoria, VH-BOB and VH-AGJ. VH-AGJ is the subject of this month’s Profile seg- ment.

Built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne as a CA-18 Mk. 21 with construction number 1443, the aircraft was taken on charge by the RAAF in 1948 with serial A68-118. Following RAAF service the machine was sold as surplus to Wilmore Aviation Services of Moorabbin airport, Vic. Registered as VH-WAS on of August 7 1959 the machine did not stay on the register very long, being struck off on August 6 the following year.

The Mustang was stored at Bankstown until 1973 when it was loaned to the Camden Museum of Aviation, then at Camden airport. Here the aircraft was given a paint job and colour scheme of No 75 Squadron markings.

It was in 1978 that RAAF Squadron Leader Jeff Trappett purchased the aircraft from Wilmore Aviation and had it trucked south to Morwell, Victoria, to Latrobe Valley Aviation Services. Here the former RAAF fighter was restored as a civil warbird and in 1980 it once again took to the air, this time as VH-AGJ.

These days VH-AGJ is a much sought after aircraft for airshows and displays. The Mustang is all over polished aluminium and silver with a black anti glare panel in front of the pilot, blue and white fuselage roundel and fin flash while the spinner is red. The rear fuselage carries the original serial A68-118. The Mustang is usually based at Morwell, but has in recenttimes has also been based at Toowoomba, Qld, depending on maintenance and airshow schedules. Mustang VH-AGJ is still owned by Jeff Trappett. Jeff, who is originally from Toowoomba was with one of the airlines. before he joined the RAAF. Jeff saw a long and interesting career with the RAAF that included service in Vietnam, work at Point Cook and East Sale, F-111 flying in Queensland and several base appointments.

More recently Jeff has joined Qantas where he is continuing to fly, this time in Boeings. There are no prizes for guessing the correct answer if you were to ask Jeff which aircraft, the Boeing or the Mustang, he enjoys flying the most.

One can only hope that Mustang VH-AGJ continues to fly the airshow circuit here in Australia for many years to come, for the enjoyment of both the spectator and the pilot.

Australian Naval Aviation Museum Fly In/ Family Days

The Naval Aviation Museum at Nowra is running a series of two monthly Fly in/Family days in order to promote the aviation/flying theme of the Museum.

Flying takes place during the day including locally based aircraft and visitors of historical interest. Entry to the Museum The aesthetically pleasing lines of the Robin R2160 lends itself easily to striking colour schemes and markings. Prominent red stars on a black background on NDXY allows it to stand out from the average crowd of 152s and Warriors, and it is now on line at Canberra airport. (Keith Myers) is just $5 per aircraft/car which goes towards the building fund engined single seat (Yak-50) and two seat (Yak-52) aerobatic to complete the Museum project. Visiting aircraft are parked aircraft, not to be confused with the earlier Yak-50 jet fighter. on the operational side of the airfield which is much more. Following the profile of Miles Messenger VH-BJT, (refer p60 convenient than the arrangements necessary for the larger July 93 AA) it is learnt that the actual registration is VH-BJH as displays. VH-BJT was not available. The all wood aircraft made its first post rebuild flight on Wednesday June 16 from Archerfield. The owner/pilot, Bill Thompson, reports that the aircraft does actually have a stall speed of an incredible 20 knots (37km/h) with full flaps and that the landing approach can be made at an indicated airspeed of 40 knots (74km/h). A truly unique flying Dates for the next twelve months are, October 31, December 5, March 6, May 1, and July 3. If you’re looking for a pleasant day’s drive or an excuse for a cross country, a trip to Nowra is well worth while with some great scenery enroute.

In Brief

• Were you connected with Moorabbin airport in the years 1948 through to around 1965? If you were, Les Coleman would like to hear from you. Les, who for many years ran an avionics firm at Moorabbin, is keen to record the history of the airport. He is gathering notes on not only the growth of the airport and aircraft that operated from there but also the people and the various organisations. While the more recent years of the airport are better documented Les has found that there are gaps in the recorded history of the earlier times. So if you were machine.

involved with the early years of the airport or known someone. The Moorabbin Air Museum has a pair of Mustang wings for who was or even have photos or documents, Les Coleman would like to hear from you. He can be contacted at PO Box 446, Cheltenham, 3192. Ph (03) 587 4988 bh or fax (03) 587 5868.

sale. The wings, which were built by CAC, were originally obtained from the Aeronautical Research Laboratory (ARL) many years ago where they were used for research work. The serial number of the aircraft that the wings came off is The Lions Club of Wagga is holding an airshow at Wagga on unknown. The wings are basic panels only and are without Sunday October 31, 1993. The event will include a display of control surfaces, flaps, undercart, undercart doors or fuel warbirds, antiques and homebuilts. The RAAF Training. Offers are invited for the purchase of the wings on the ity will also be open for public display. basis of as is, where is. The wings were last used under the fuselage of a P-40 that the museum has but only for static display. With the P-40 fuselage now on display in the museum’s WWII South Pacific Gallery the wings are surplus to requirements.

From South Australia we learn that Ivor Paech has managed to obtain the registration VH-YAK for, whatever else but, a Yak. Ivor and fellow aviator Geoff Davis have imported a Yak-50 and a Yak-52 with more to come. These are piston